Posted: 12/10/2014
Multidisciplinary approach improves outcomes
It is the fifth most common cause of death worldwide and the fastest-growing cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, and now hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a liver cancer, is the target of an innovative approach at Parkland Health & Hospital System.
The physicians of Parkland’s Hepatocellular Carcinoma Multidisciplinary Clinic, or Liver Tumor Cancer Clinic, have seen a significant improvement in survival rates among patients since launch of a multidisciplinary program that brings together a team of highly skilled specialists to develop a collaborative care plan for each patient.
“We looked at patients two years before the clinic opened and two years after it opened, and we found significant improvement in patient outcomes. With this multidisciplinary approach – oncologists, surgeons, hepatologists and interventional radiologists – we saw survival rates increase three-fold,” said Adam Yopp, MD, one of the two physicians spearheading the clinic.
“This collaborative approach helps us not only to get patients connected to treatment faster after being diagnosed, but it also helps us provide better treatment,” Amit Singal, MD, said. “We’re also able to evaluate people with suspected HCC faster and expedite the diagnosis.”
Drs. Yopp and Singal, the clinic founders, have devoted their careers to helping patients with this serious disease. Drs. Singal and Yopp serve as the Medical Director and Surgical Director of the Parkland Liver Tumor Cancer Clinic, respectively. Dr. Singal is a transplant hepatologist and Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Yopp is a surgical oncologist and Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Surgical Oncology Division of UT Southwestern Medical Center.
The clinic literally has been a lifesaver, said Ricardo Curiel, who was diagnosed with HCC in 2012. He underwent chemotherapy before having a liver transplant in March 2013.
“I’m a true believer. The team at Parkland was awesome,” Curiel said. “They are the reason I’m here.”
As soon as he could he went back to work, installing hardwood floors. Curiel, 60, said the teamwork at the Parkland Liver Tumor Cancer Clinic helped him through the difficult time. “I wasn’t sent from one doctor to another and forgotten; they were all working together,” he said.
Hepatocellular carcinoma is especially prevalent in Texas, which ranks second only to Mississippi in incidence of new cases. Among the factors for Texas’ high incidence is an aging population of people with Hepatitis C infection, and growing rates of fatty liver disease, both of which contribute to development of hepatocellular carcinoma.
A study by Dr. Yopp and Dr. Singal published in December 2013 in the Annals of Surgical Oncology is one of the first to show tangible positive outcomes from such a multidisciplinary clinic.
“This collaborative approach not only helps get patients connected to treatment sooner, but it also helps us provide higher rates of appropriate treatment with the best outcomes,” Dr. Singal said. “One goal of our Liver Tumor Cancer Clinic is early diagnosis, so we also help evaluate people with suspected HCC and expedite the diagnosis.”
The weekly clinic, which opened in October 2010, has grown from a handful of patients to now seeing 30 to 40 patients each week. For more information about the Parkland Liver Tumor Cancer Clinic call 214.590.5580. To learn more about how Parkland treats cancer at www.parklandhospital.com/cancer.